Agatha Webb

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Agatha Webb

by

Anna Katharine Green

Web-Books.Com

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Agatha WebbBook I. The Purple Orchi...............................................................................3

Book II. The !an O" #o $eputation.......................................................113

Book III. %a Batsy &i'e(..........................................................................157

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Book I. The Purple OrchidI. A CRY ON THE HILL

The dance was over. From the great house on the hill the guests had all dearted and onl! themusicians remained. As the! "iled out through the amle doorwa!# on their wa! home# the "irst"aint strea$ o" earl! dawn %ecame visi%le in the east. One o" them# a lan$# lain&"eatured !oungman o" ungainl! asect %ut enetrating e!e# called the attention o" the others to it.

'Loo$(' said he) 'there is the da!light( This has %een a ga! night "or *utherlandtown.'

'Too ga!#' muttered another# starting aside as the slight "igure o" a !oung mancoming "rom the house %ehind them rushed hastil! %!. '+h!# who,s that-'

As the! one and all had recognised the erson thus alluded to# no one answered tillhe had dashed out o" the gate and disaeared in the woods on the other side o" theroad. Then the! all so$e at once.

'It,s r. Frederic$('

'He seems in a deserate hurr!.'

'He trod on m! toes.'

'/id !ou hear the words he was muttering as he went %!-'

As onl! the last 0uestion was calculated to rouse an! interest# it alone receivedattention.

'No) what were the!- I heard him sa! something# %ut I "ailed to catch the words.'

'He wasn,t tal$ing to !ou# or to me either# "or that matter) %ut I have ears that canhear an e!e win$. He said1 ,Than$ 2od# this night o" horror is over(, Thin$ o" that(

A"ter such a dance and such a sread# he calls the night horri%le and than$s 2odthat it is over. I thought he was the ver! man to en3o! this $ind o" thing.'

'*o did I.'

'And so did I.'

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The "ive musicians e4changed loo$s# then huddled in a grou at the gate.

'He has 0uarrelled with his sweetheart#' suggested one.

'I,m not surrised at that#' declared another. 'I never thought it would %e a match.'

'*hame i" it were(' muttered the ungainl! !outh who had so$en "irst.

As the su%3ect o" this comment was the son o" the gentleman whose house the!were 3ust leaving# the! necessaril! so$e low) %ut their tones were ri"e with curiosit!#and it was evident that the toic deel! interested them. One o" the "ive who had notreviousl! so$en now ut in a word1

'I saw him when he "irst led out iss 5age to dance# and I saw him again when hestood u oosite her in the last 0uadrille# and I tell !ou# %o!s# there was a might!deal o" di""erence in the wa! he conducted himsel" toward her in the %eginning o" theevening and the last. You wouldn,t have thought him the same man. Rec$less !oung"ellows li$e him are not to %e caught %! dimles onl!. The! want cash.'

'Or "amil!# at least) and she hasn,t either. 6ut what a rett! girl she is( an! a "ellow

as rich as he and as well connected would %e satis"ied with her good loo$s alone.''2ood loo$s(' High scorn was o%serva%le in this e4clamation# which was made %!the !oung man whom I have %e"ore characterised as ungainl!. 'I re"use toac$nowledge that she has an! good loo$s. On the contrar!# I consider her lain.'

'Oh( Oh(' %urst in rotest "rom more than one mouth. 'And wh! does she have ever!"ellow in the room dangling a"ter her# then-' as$ed the la!er on the "lageolet.

'*he hasn,t a regular "eature.'

'+hat di""erence does that ma$e when it isn,t her "eatures !ou notice# %ut hersel"-'

'I don,t li$e her.'

A laugh "ollowed this.

'That won,t trou%le her# *weetwater. *utherland does# i" !ou don,t# and that,s muchmore to the oint. And he,ll marr! her !et) he can,t hel it. +h!# she,d

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witch the devil into leading her to the altar i" she too$ a notion to have him "or her%ridegroom.'

'There would %e consistenc! in that#' muttered the "ellow 3ust addressed. '6ut r.Frederic$&&'

'Hush( There,s some one on the doorste. +h!# it,s she('The! all glanced %ac$. The grace"ul "igure o" a !oung girl dressed in white was to %eseen leaning toward them "rom the oen doorwa!. 6ehind her shone a %la7e o"light&&the candles not having %een !et e4tinguished in the hall&&and against this%rilliant %ac$ground her slight "orm# with all its %ewitching outlines# stood out in lainrelie".

'+ho was that-' she %egan in a high# almost strident voice# totall! out o" $eeingwith the sensuous curves o" her strange# sweet "ace. 6ut the 0uestion remainedunanswered# "or at that moment her attention# as well as that o" the men lingering atthe gate# was attracted %! the sound o" hurr!ing "eet and con"used cries coming uthe hill.

'urder( urder(' was the word anted out %! more than one harsh voice) and inanother instant a do7en men and %o!s came rushing into sight in a state o" suche4citement that the "ive musicians recoiled "rom the gate# and one o" them went so"ar as to start %ac$ toward the house. As he did so he noticed a curious thing. The!oung woman whom the! had all erceived standing in the door a moment %e"orehad vanished# !et she was $nown to ossess the $eenest curiosit! o" an! one intown.

'urder( urder(' A terri%le and unrecedented cr! in this old# 2od&"earing town.Then came in hoarse e4lanation "rom the 3ostling grou as the! stoed at the gate1'rs. +e%% has %een $illed( *ta%%ed with a $ni"e( Tell r. *utherland('

rs. +e%%(

As the musicians heard this name# so honoured and so universall! %eloved# the! to aman uttered a cr!. rs. +e%%( +h!# it was imossi%le. *houting in their turn "or r.*utherland# the! all crowded "orward.

'Not rs. +e%%(' the! rotested. '+ho could have the daring or the heart to $illHER-'

'2od $nows#' answered a voice "rom the highwa!. '6ut she,s dead&& we,ve 3ust seenher('

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'Then it,s the old man,s wor$#' 0uavered a iing voice. 'I,ve alwa!s said he wouldturn on his %est "riend some da!. ,*!lum,s the %est lace "or "ol$s as has lost theirwits. I&&'

6ut here a hand was ut over his mouth# and the rest o" the words was lost in aninarticulate gurgle. r. *utherland had 3ust aeared on the orch.

He was a suer%&loo$ing man# with an e4ression o" mingled $indness and dignit!that invaria%l! awa$ened %oth awe and admiration in the sectator. No man in thecountr!&&I was going to sa! no woman was more %eloved# or held in higher esteem.Yet he could not control his onl! son# as ever!one within ten miles o" the hill well$new.

At this moment his "ace showed %oth ain and shoc$.

'+hat name are !ou shouting out there-' he %ro$enl! demanded. 'Agatha +e%%- IsAgatha +e%% hurt-'

'Yes# sir) $illed#' reeated a hal"&do7en voices at once. '+e,ve 3ust come "rom thehouse. All the town is u. *ome sa! her hus%and did it.'

'No# no(' was r. *utherland,s decisive though hal"&inaudi%le resonse. '5hilemon+e%% might end his own li"e# %ut not Agatha,s. It was the mone!&&'

Here he caught himsel" u# and# raising his voice# addressed the crowd o" villagersmore directl!.

'+ait#' said he# 'and I will go %ac$ with !ou. +here is Frederic$-' he demanded o"such mem%ers o" his own household as stood a%out him.

No one $new.

'I wish some one would "ind m! son. I want him to go into town with me.'

'He,s over in the woods there#' volunteered a voice "rom without.

'In the woods(' reeated the "ather# in a surrised tone.

'Yes# sir) we all saw him go. *hall we sing out to him-'

'No# no) I will manage ver! well without him.' And ta$ing u his hat r. *utherlandsteed out again uon the orch.

*uddenl! he stoed. A hand had %een laid on his arm and an insinuating voice wasmurmuring in his ear1

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'/o !ou mind i" I go with !ou- I will not ma$e an! trou%le.'

It was the same !oung lad! we have seen %e"ore.

The old gentleman "rowned&&he who never "rowned and remar$ed shortl!1

'A scene o" murder is no lace "or women.'

The "ace uturned to his remained unmoved.

'I thin$ I will go#' she 0uietl! ersisted. 'I can easil! mingle with the crowd.'

He said not another word against it. iss 5age was under a! in his house# %ut "orthe last "ew wee$s no one had underta$en to contradict her. In the interval since her"irst aearance on the orch# she had e4changed the light dress in which she haddanced at the %all# "or a dar$er and more servicea%le one# and erhas this to$en o"her determination ma! have had its in"luence in silencing him. He 3oined the crowd#and together the! moved down& hill. This was too much "or the servants o" thehouse. One %! one the! too le"t the house till it stood a%solutel! emt!. 8err! snu""edout the candles and shut the "ront door# %ut the side entrance stood wide oen# and

into this entrance# as the last "ootste died out on the hillside# assed a slight andresolute "igure. It was that o" the musician who had 0uestioned iss 5age,sattractions.

II. ONE NI2HT,* +OR9

*utherlandtown was a seaort. The village# which was a small one# consisted o" onelong street and numerous cross streets running down "rom the hillside and ending onthe wharves. On one o" the corners thus made# stood the +e%% house# with its "rontdoor on the main street and its side door on one o" the hillside lanes. As the grou o"men and %o!s who had %een in search o" r. *utherland entered this last&mentionedlane# the! could ic$ out this house "rom all the others# as it was the onl! one inwhich a light was still %urning. r. *utherland lost no time in entering uon the scene

o" traged!. As his imosing "igure emerged "rom the dar$ness and aused on theouts$irts o" the crowd that was %loc$ing u ever! entrance to the house# a murmur o"welcome went u# a"ter which a wa! was made "or him to the "ront door.

6ut %e"ore he could enter# some one luc$ed him %! the sleeve.

'Loo$ u(' whisered a voice into his ear.

He did so# and saw a woman,s %od! hanging hal" out o" an uer window. It hunglim# and the sight made him sic$# notwithstanding his threescore !ears o"e4erience.

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'+ho,s that-' he cried. 'That,s not Agatha +e%%.'

'No# that,s 6ats!# the coo$. *he,s dead as well as her mistress. +e le"t her where we"ound her "or the coroner to see.'

'6ut this is horri%le#' murmured r. *utherland. 'Has there %een a %utcher here-'

As he uttered these words# he "elt another 0uic$ ressure on his arm. Loo$ing down#he saw leaning against him the "orm o" a !oung woman# %ut %e"ore he could addressher she had started uright again and was moving on with the throng. It was iss5age.

'It was the sight o" this woman hanging "rom the window which "irst drew attention tothe house#' volunteered a man who was standing as a sort o" guardian at the maingatewa!. '*ome o" the sailors, wives who had %een to the wharves to see theirhus%ands o"" on the shi that sailed at da!%rea$# saw it as the! came u the lane ontheir wa! home# and gave the alarm. +ithout that we might not have $nown to thishour what had haened.'

'6ut rs. +e%%-'

'Come in and see.'

There was a %oard "ence a%out the simle !ard within which stood the hum%le house"orever a"ter to %e ointed out as the scene o" *utherlandtown,s most heartrendingtraged!. In this "ence was a gate# and through this gate now assed r. *utherland#"ollowed %! his would&%e comanion# iss 5age. A ath %ordered %! lilac %ushes ledu to the house# the door o" which stood wide oen. As soon as r. *utherlandentered uon this ath a man aroached him "rom the doorwa!. It was AmosFenton# the consta%le.

'Ah# r. *utherland#' said he# 'sad %usiness# a ver! sad %usiness( 6ut what little girlhave !ou there-'

'This is iss 5age# m! house$eeer,s niece. *he would come. In0uisitiveness thecause. I do not arove o" it.'

'iss 5age must remain on the doorste. +e allow no one inside e4ceting!oursel"#' he said resect"ull!# in recognition o" the "act that nothing o" imortancewas ever underta$en in *utherland town without the resence o" r. *utherland.

iss 5age curtsied# loo$ing so %ewitching in the "resh morning light that the toughold consta%le scratched his chin in grudging admiration. 6ut he did not

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reconsider his determination. *eeing this# she acceted her de"eat grace"ull!# andmoved aside to where the %ushes o""ered her more or less rotection "rom thecuriosit! o" those a%out her. eanwhile r. *utherland had steed into the house.

He "ound himsel" in a small hall with a staircase in "ront and an oen door at the le"t.On the threshold o" this oen door a man stood# who at sight o" him do""ed his hat.

5assing %! this man# r. *utherland entered the room %e!ond. A ta%le sread witheata%les met his view# %eside which# in an attitude which struc$ him at the momentas eculiar# sat 5hilemon +e%%# the well&$nown master o" the house.

Astonished at seeing his old "riend in this room and in such a osition# he was a%outto address him# when r. Fenton stoed him.

'+ait(' said he. 'Ta$e a loo$ at oor 5hilemon %e"ore !ou distur% him. +hen we%ro$e into the house a hal"&hour ago he was sitting 3ust as !ou see him now# and wehave let him %e "or reasons !ou can easil! areciate. E4amine him closel!# r.*utherland) he won,t notice it.'

'6ut what ails him- +h! does he sit crouched against the ta%le- Is he hurt too-'

'No) loo$ at his e!es.'

r. *utherland stooed and ushed aside the long gre! loc$s that hal" concealed thecountenance o" his aged "riend.

'+h!#' he cried# startled# 'the! are closed( He isn,t dead-'

'No# he is aslee.'

'Aslee-'

'Yes. He was aslee when we came in and he is aslee !et. *ome o" the neigh%ourswanted to wa$e him# %ut I would not let them. His wits are not strong enough to %eara sudden shoc$.'

'No# no# oor 5hilemon( 6ut that he should sit sleeing here while she&&6ut what dothese %ottles mean and this arade o" suer in a room the! were not accustomed toeat in-'

'+e don,t $now. It has not %een eaten# !ou see. He has swallowed a glass o" ort#%ut that is all. The other glasses have had no wine in them# nor have the victuals%een touched.'

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'*eats set "or three and onl! one occuied#' murmured r. *utherland. '*trange(Could he have e4ected guests-'

'It loo$s li$e it. I didn,t $now that his wi"e allowed him such rivileges) %ut she wasalwa!s too good to him# and I "ear has aid "or it with her li"e.'

'Nonsense( he never $illed her. Had his love %een an!thing short o" the worshi itwas# he stood in too much awe o" her to li"t his hand against her# even in his mostdemented moments.'

'I don,t trust men o" uncertain wits#' returned the other. 'You have not noticedever!thing that is to %e seen in this room.'

r. *utherland# recalled to himsel" %! these words# loo$ed 0uic$l! a%out him. +iththe e4cetion o" the ta%le and what was on and %! it there was nothing else in theroom. Naturall! his glance returned to 5hilemon +e%%.

'I don,t see an!thing %ut this oor sleeing man#' he %egan.

'Loo$ at his sleeve.'

r. *utherland# with a start# again %ent down. The arm o" his old "riend la! croo$eduon the ta%le# and on its %lue cotton sleeve there was a smear which might have%een wine# %ut which was&& %lood.

As r. *utherland %ecame assured o" this# he turned slightl! ale and loo$edin0uiringl! at the two men who were intentl! watching him.

'This is %ad#' said he. 'An! other mar$s o" %lood %elow stairs-'

'No) that one smear is all.'

'Oh# 5hilemon(' %urst "rom r. *utherland# in dee emotion. Then# as he loo$ed longand shudderingl! at his "riend# he added slowl!1

'He has %een in the room where she was $illed) so much is evident. 6ut that he

understood what was done there I cannot %elieve# or he would not %e sleeing hereli$e a log. Come# let us go u&stairs.'

Fenton# with an admonitor! gesture toward his su%ordinate# turned directl! towardthe staircase. r. *utherland "ollowed him# and the! at once roceeded to the uerhall and into the large "ront room which had %een the scene o" the traged!.

It was the arlour or sitting&room o" this small and unretentious house. A rag caretcovered the "loor and the "urniture was o" the lainest $ind# %ut the

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woman who la! outstretched on the sti""# old&"ashioned lounge oosite the door was"ar "rom %eing in accord with the homel! t!e o" her surroundings. Though the victimo" a violent death# her "ace and "orm# %oth o" a %eaut! seldom to %e "ound amongwomen o" an! station# were so ma3estic in their calm reose# that r. *utherland#accustomed as he was to her no%le aearance# e4erienced a shoc$ o" surrise

that "ound vent in these words1'urdered( she- You have made some mista$e# m! "riends. Loo$ at her "ace('

6ut even in the act o" sa!ing this his e!es "ell on the %lood which had d!ed hercotton dress and he cried1

'+here was she struc$ and where is the weaon which has made this ghastl!wound-'

'*he was struc$ while standing or sitting at this ta%le#' returned the consta%le#ointing to two or three dros o" %lood on its smooth sur"ace. 'The weaon we havenot "ound# %ut the wound shows that it was in"licted %! a three&sided dagger.'

'A three&sided dagger-'

'Yes.'

'I didn,t $now there was such a thing in town. 5hilemon could have had no dagger.'

'It does not seem so# %ut one can never tell. *imle cottages li$e these o"ten containthe most unloo$ed&"or articles.'

'I cannot imagine a dagger %eing among its e""ects#' declared r. *utherland.'+here was the %od! o" rs. +e%% l!ing when !ou came in-'

'+here !ou see it now. Nothing has %een moved or changed.'

'*he was "ound here# on this lounge# in the same osition in which we see her now-'

'Yes# sir.'

'6ut that is incredi%le. Loo$ at the wa! she lies( Hands crossed# e!es closed# asthough made read! "or her %urial. Onl! loving hands could have done this. +hatdoes it mean-'

'It means 5hilemon) that is what it means 5hilemon.'

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r. *utherland shuddered# %ut said nothing. He was dum%"ounded %! theseevidences o" a cra7! man,s wor$. 5hilemon +e%% alwa!s seemed so harmless#though he had %een "ailing in mind "or the last ten !ears.

'6ut' cried r. *utherland# suddenl! rousing# 'there is another victim. I saw oldwoman 6ats! hanging "rom a window ledge# dead.'

'Yes# she is in this other room) %ut there is no wound on 6ats!.'

'How was she $illed# then-'

'That the doctors must tell us.'

r. *utherland# guided %! r. Fenton,s gesture# entered a small room oening intothe one in which the! stood. His attention was at once attracted %! the %od! o" thewoman he had seen "rom %elow# l!ing hal" in and hal" out o" the oen window. Thatshe was dead was evident) %ut# as r. Fenton had said# no wound was to %e seenuon her# nor were there an! mar$s o" %lood on or a%out the lace where she la!.

'This is a dread"ul %usiness#' groaned r. *utherland# 'the worst I have ever had

an!thing to do with. Hel me to li"t the woman in) she has %een long enough a show"or the eole outside.'

There was a %ed in this room :indeed# it was rs. +e%%,s %edroom;# and uon thisoor 6ats! was laid. As the "ace came uermost %oth gentlemen started andloo$ed at each other in ama7ement. The e4ression o" terror and alarm which itshowed was in stri$ing contrast to the loo$ o" e4altation to %e seen on the "ace o" herdead mistress.

III. THE E5TY /RA+ER

As the! re&entered the larger room# the! were astonished to come uon iss 5agestanding in the doorwa!. *he was ga7ing at the recum%ent "igure o" the deadwoman# and "or a moment seemed unconscious o" their resence.

'How did !ou get in- +hich o" m! men was wea$ enough to let !ou ass# against m!e4ress instructions-' as$ed the consta%le# who was o" an irrita%le and susiciousnature.

*he let the hood dro "rom her head# and# turning# surve!ed him with a slow smile.There was witcher! in that smile su""icient to a""ect a much more

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cultivated and callous nature than his# and though he had %een roo" against it oncehe could not 0uite resist the e""ect o" its reetition.

'I insisted uon entering#' said she. '/o not %lame the men) the! did not want to use"orce against a woman.' *he had not a good voice and she $new it) %ut she coveredu this de"ect %! a choice o" intonations that carried her lightest seech to the heart.

Hard&visaged Amos Fenton gave a grunt# which was as near an e4ression o"aroval as he ever gave to an!one.

'+ell( well(' he growled# %ut not ill&naturedl!# 'it,s a mor%id curiosit! that %rings !ouhere. 6etter dro it# girl) it won,t do !ou an! good in the e!es o" sensi%le eole.'

'Than$ !ou#' was her demure rel!# her lis dimling at the corners in a wa! toshoc$ the sensitive r. *utherland.

2lancing "rom her to the still outlines o" the no%le "igure on the couch# he remar$edwith an air o" mild reroo"1

'I do not understand !ou# iss 5age. I" this solemn sight has no ower to sto !ourco0uetries# nothing can. As "or !our curiosit!# it is %oth ill&timed and unwomanl!. Let

me see !ou leave this house at once# iss 5age) and i" in the "ew hours which mustelase %e"ore %rea$"ast !ou can "ind time to ac$ !our trun$s# !ou will still "arthero%lige me.'

'Oh# don,t send me awa!# I entreat !ou.'

It was a cr! "rom her inner heart# which she ro%a%l! regretted# "or she instantl!sought to cover u her inadvertent sel"&%etra!al %! a su%missive %end o" the headand a ste %ac$ward. Neither r. Fenton nor r. *utherland seemed to hear the oneor see the other# their attention having returned to the more serious matter in hand.

'The dress which our oor "riend wears shows her to have %een struc$ %e"oreretiring#' commented r. *utherland# a"ter another short surve! o" rs. +e%%,s

"igure. 'I" 5hilemon&&''E4cuse me# sir#' interruted the voice o" the !oung man who had %een le"t in thehall# 'the lad! is listening to what !ou sa!. *he is still at the head o" the stairs.'

'*he is# is she(' cried Fenton# sharl!# his admiration "or the "ascinating strangerhaving oo7ed out at his comanion,s re%u"". 'I will soon show her&&' 6ut the wordsmelted into thin air as he reached the door. The !oung girl had disaeared# andonl! a "aint er"ume remained in the lace where she had stood.

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'A most e4traordinar! erson#' grum%led the consta%le# turning %ac$# %ut stoingagain as a "aint murmur came u "rom %elow.

'The gentleman is wa$ing#' called u a voice whose lac$ o" music was 0uiteerceti%le at a distance.

+ith a %ound r. Fenton descended the stairs# "ollowed %! r. *utherland.iss 5age stood %e"ore the door o" the room in which sat 5hilemon +e%%. As the!reached her side# she made a little %ow that was hal" moc$ing# hal" derecator!# andslied "rom the house. An almost un%eara%le sensation o" incongruit! vanished withher# and r. *utherland# "or one# %reathed li$e a man relieved.

'I wish the doctor would come#' Fenton said# as the! watched the slow li"ting o"5hilemon +e%%,s head. 'Our "astest rider has gone "or him# %ut he,s out 5ortchesterwa!# and it ma! %e an hour !et %e"ore he can get here.'

'5hilemon('

r. *utherland had advanced and was standing %! his old "riend,s side.

'5hilemon# what has %ecome o" !our guests- You,ve waited "or them here untilmorning.'

The old man with a da7ed loo$ surve!ed the two lates set on either side o" him andshoo$ his head.

'8ames and 8ohn are getting roud#' said he# 'or the! "orget# the! "orget.'

8ames and 8ohn. He must mean the


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r. *utherland too$ him %! the arm and led him u&stairs. 5erhas the sight o" hisdead wi"e would restore him. 6ut he loo$ed at her with the same indi""erence heshowed to ever!thing else.

'I don,t li$e her calico dresses#' said he. '*he might have worn sil$# %ut she wouldn,t.Agatha# will !ou wear sil$ to m! "uneral-'

The e4eriment was too ain"ul# and the! drew him awa!. 6ut the consta%le,scuriosit! had %een roused# and a"ter the! had "ound some one to ta$e care o" him#he drew r. *utherland aside and said1

'+hat did the old man mean %! sa!ing she might have worn sil$- Are the! %etter o""than the! seem-' r. *utherland closed the door %e"ore rel!ing.

'The! are rich#' he declared# to the utter ama7ement o" the other. 'That is# the!were) %ut the! ma! have %een ro%%ed) i" so# 5hilemon was not the wretch who $illedher. I have %een told that she $et her mone! in an old&"ashioned cu%oard. /o !ousuose the! alluded to that one-'

He ointed to a door set in the wall over the "irelace# and r. Fenton# erceiving a

$e! stic$ing in the loc$# steed 0uic$l! across the "loor and oened it. A row o"%oo$s met his e!es# %ut on ta$ing them down a coule o" drawers were seen at the%ac$.

'Are the! loc$ed-' as$ed r. *utherland.

'One is and one is not.'

'Oen the one that is unloc$ed.'

r. Fenton did so.

'It is emt!#' said he.

r. *utherland cast a loo$ toward the dead woman# and again the er"ect serenit! o"

her countenance struc$ him.'I do not $now whether to regard her as the victim o" her hus%and,s im%ecilit! or o"some vile ro%%er,s cuidit!. Can !ou "ind the $e! to the other drawer-'

'I will tr!.'

'*uose !ou %egin# then# %! loo$ing on her erson. It should %e in her oc$et# i" nomarauder has %een here.'

'It is not in her oc$et.'

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'Hanging to her nec$# then# %! a string-'

'No) there is a loc$et here# %ut no $e!. A ver! handsome loc$et# r. *utherland# witha child,s loc$ o" golden hair&&'

'Never mind# we will see that later) it is the $e! we want 3ust now.'

'2ood heavens(''+hat is it-'

'It is in her hand) the one that lies underneath.'

'Ah( A oint# Fenton.'

'A great oint.'

'*tand %! her# Fenton. /on,t let an!one ro% her o" that $e! till the coroner comes#and we are at li%ert! to ta$e it.'

'I will not leave her "or an instant.'

'eanwhile# I will ut %ac$ these %oo$s.'

He had scarcel! done so when a "resh arrival occurred. This time it was one o" thevillage clerg!men.

I=. THE F>LL /RA+ER

This gentleman had some in"ormation to give. It seems that at an earl! hour o" thissame night he had gone %! this house on his wa! home "rom the %edside o" a sic$arishioner. As he was assing the gate he was run into %! a man who came rushingout o" the !ard# in a state o" violent agitation. In this man,s hand was something thatglittered# and though the encounter nearl! uset them %oth# he had not stoed toutter an aolog!# %ut stum%led awa! out o" sight with a hast! %ut in"irm ste# whichshowed he was neither !oung nor active. The minister had "ailed to see his "ace# %ut

noticed the ends o" a long %eard %lowing over his shoulder as he hurried awa!.5hilemon was a clean&shaven man.

As$ed i" he could give the time o" this encounter# he relied that it was not "ar "rommidnight# as he was in his own house %! hal"& ast twelve.

'/id !ou glance u at these windows in assing-' as$ed r. Fenton.

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'I must have) "or I now remem%er the! were %oth lighted.'

'+ere the shades u-'

'I thin$ not. I would have noticed it i" the! had %een.'

'How were the shades when !ou %ro$e into the house this morning-' in0uired r.

*utherland o" the consta%le.'8ust as the! are now) we have moved nothing. The shades were %oth down&&one o"them over an oen window.'

'+ell# we ma! "ind this encounter o" !ours with this un$nown man a matter o" vitalimortance# r. Crane.'

'I wish I had seen his "ace.'

'+hat do !ou thin$ the o%3ect was !ou saw glittering in his hand-'

'I should not li$e to sa!) I saw it %ut an instant.'

'Could it have %een a $ni"e or an old&"ashioned dagger-'

'It might have %een.''Alas( oor Agatha( That she# who so desised mone!# should "all a victim to man,scuidit!( >nha! li"e# unha! death( Fenton# I shall alwa!s mourn "or Agatha+e%%.'

'Yet she seems to have "ound eace at last#' o%served the minister. 'I have neverseen her loo$ so contented.' And leading r. *utherland aside# he whisered1 '+hatis this !ou sa! a%out mone!- Had she# in site o" aearances# an! considera%leamount- I as$# %ecause in site o" her hum%le home and simle manner o" living#she alwa!s ut more on the late than an! o" her neigh%ours. 6esides which# I have"rom time to time during m! astorate received anon!mousl! certain contri%utions#which# as the! were alwa!s "or sic$ or su""ering children&&'

'Yes# !es) the! came "rom her# I have no dou%t o" it. *he was %! no means oor#though I m!sel" never $new the e4tent o" her means till latel!. 5hilemon was a good%usiness man once) %ut the! evidentl! re"erred to live siml!# having no childrenliving&&'

'The! have lost si4# I have %een told.'

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'*o the 5ortchester "ol$s sa!. The! ro%a%l! had no heart "or disla! or "or even thesimlest lu4uries. At all events# the! did not indulge in them.'

'5hilemon has long %een ast indulging in an!thing.'

'Oh# he li$es his com"ort# and he has had it too. Agatha never stinted him.'

'6ut wh! do !ou thin$ her death was due to her having mone!-''*he had a large sum in the house# and there are those in town who $new this.'

'And is it gone-'

'That we shall $now later.'

As the coroner arrived at this moment# the minister,s curiosit! had to wait.Fortunatel! "or his e0uanimit!# no one had the resumtion to as$ him to leave theroom.

The coroner was a man o" %ut "ew words# and %ut little given to emotion. Yet the!were surrised at his "irst 0uestion1

'+ho is the !oung woman standing outside there# the onl! one in the !ard-'r. *utherland# moving raidl! to the window# drew aside the shade.

'It is iss 5age# m! house$eeer,s niece#' he e4lained. 'I do not understand herinterest in this a""air. *he "ollowed me here "rom the house and could hardl! %e gotto leave this room# into which she intruded hersel" against m! e4ress command.'

'6ut loo$ at her attitude(' It was r. Fenton who so$e. '*he,s cra7ier than5hilemon# it seems to me.'

There was some reason "or this remar$. 2uarded %! the high "ence "rom the ga7e o"the ushing crowd without# she stood uright and immova%le in the middle o" the!ard# li$e one on watch. The hood# which she had droed "rom her head when she

thought her e!es and smile might %e o" use to her in the "urtherance o" her lans#had %een drawn over it again# so that she loo$ed more li$e a statue in gre! than aliving# %reathing woman. Yet there was menace in her attitude and a urose in thesolitar! stand she too$ in that circle o" %oard&girded grass# which caused a thrill inthe %reasts o" those who loo$ed at her "rom that cham%er o" death.

'A m!sterious !oung woman#' muttered the minister.

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'And one that I neither countenance nor under&stand#' interolated r. *utherland. 'Ihave 3ust shown m! disleasure at her actions %! dismissing her "rom m! house.'

The coroner gave him a 0uic$ loo$# seemed a%out to sea$# %ut changed his mindand turned toward the dead woman.

'+e have a sad dut! %e"ore us#' said he.The investigations which "ollowed elicited one or two new "acts. First# that all thedoors o" the house were "ound unloc$ed) and# secondl!# that the consta%le had %eenamong the "irst to enter# so that he could vouch that no disarrangement had %eenmade in the rooms# with the e4cetion o" 6ats!,s removal to the %ed.

Then# his attention %eing drawn to the dead woman# he discovered the $e! in hertightl! closed hand.

'+here does this $e! %elong-' he as$ed.

The! showed him the drawers in the cu%oard.

'One is emt!#' remar$ed i. *utherland. 'I" the other is "ound to %e in the same

condition# then her mone! has %een ta$en. That $e! she holds should oen %oththese drawers.'

'Then let it %e made use o" at once. It is imortant that we should $now whether the"thas %een committed here as well as murder.' And drawing the $e! out# he handed itto r. Fenton.

The consta%le immediatel! unloc$ed the drawer and %rought it and its contents tothe ta%le.

'No mone! here#' said he.

'6ut aers as good as mone!#' announced the doctor. '*ee( here are deeds andmore than one valua%le %ond. I 3udge she was a richer woman than an! o" us $new.'

r. *utherland# meantime# was loo$ing with an air o" disaointment into the nowemt! drawer.

'8ust as I "eared#' said he. '*he has %een ro%%ed o" her read! mone!. It wasdou%tless in the other drawer.'

'How came she %! the $e!# then-'

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'That is one o" the m!steries o" the a""air) this murder is %! no means a simle one. I%egin to thin$ we shall "ind it "ull o" m!steries.'

'6ats!,s death# "or instance-'

'O !es# 6ats!( I "orgot that she was "ound dead too.'

'+ithout a wound# doctor.''*he had heart disease. I doctored her "or it. The "right has $illed her.'

'The loo$ o" her "ace con"irms that.'

'Let me see( *o it does) %ut we must have an autos! to rove it.'

'I would li$e to e4lain %e"ore an! "urther measures are ta$en# how I came to $nowthat Agatha +e%% had mone! in her house#' said r. *utherland# as the! steed%ac$ into the other room. 'Two da!s ago# as I was sitting with m! "amil! at ta%le# oldgossi 8ud! came in. Had rs. *utherland %een living# this old crone would not haveresumed to intrude uon us at mealtime# %ut as we have no one now to uhold ourdignit!# this woman rushed into our resence anting with news# and told us all in

one %reath how she had 3ust come "rom rs. +e%%) that rs. +e%% had mone!) thatshe had seen it# she hersel") that# going into the house as usual without $noc$ing#she had heard Agatha steing overhead and had gone u) and "inding the door o"the sitting&room a3ar# had loo$ed in# and seen Agatha crossing the room with herhands "ull o" %ills) that these %ills were %ig %ills# "or she heard Agatha cr!# as sheloc$ed them u in the cu%oard %ehind the %oo$&shelves# ,A thousand dollars( Thatis too much mone! to have in one,s house,) that she# 8ud!# thought so too# and %eing"rightened at what she had seen# had cret awa! as silentl! as she had entered andrun awa! to tell the neigh%ours. Hail!# I was the "irst she "ound u that morning#%ut I have no dou%t that# in site o" m! e4ress in3unctions# she has since related thenews to hal" the eole in town.'

'+as the !oung woman down !onder resent when 8ud! told this stor!-' as$ed thecoroner# ointing towards the !ard.

r. *utherland ondered. '5ossi%l!) I do not remem%er. Frederic$ was seated at theta%le with me# and m! house$eeer was ouring out the co""ee# %ut it was earl! "oriss 5age. *he has %een utting on great airs o" late.'

'Can it %e ossi%le he is tr!ing to %lind himsel" to the "act that his son Frederic$wishes to marr! this girl-' muttered the clerg!man into the consta%le,s ear.

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The consta%le shoo$ his head. r. *utherland was one o" those de%onair men#whose ver! mildness ma$es them imenetra%le.

=. A *5OT ON THE LA+N

The coroner# on leaving the house# was "ollowed %! r. *utherland. As the "ine

"igures o" the two men aeared on the doorste# a "aint cheer was heard "rom thetwo or three "avoured ersons who were allowed to loo$ through the gate. 6ut to thisto$en o" welcome neither gentleman resonded %! so much as a loo$# all theirattention %eing engrossed %! the sight o" the solitar! "igure o" iss 5age# who stillheld her stand uon the lawn. otionless as a statue# %ut with her e!es "i4ed uontheir "aces# she awaited their aroach. +hen the! were near her she thrust onehand "rom under her cloa$# and ointing to the grass at her "eet# said 0uietl!1

'*ee this-'

The! hastened towards her and %ent down to e4amine the sot she indicated.

'+hat do !ou "ind there-' cried r. *utherland# whose e!esight was not good.

'6lood#' resonded the coroner# luc$ing u a %lade o" grass and surve!ing itclosel!.

'6lood#' echoed iss 5age# with so suggestive a glance that r. *utherland staredat her in ama7ement# not understanding his own emotion.

'How were !ou a%le to discern a stain so nearl! imerceti%le-' as$ed the coroner.

'Imerceti%le- It is the onl! thing I see in the whole !ard#' she retorted# and with aslight %ow# which was not without its element o" moc$er!# she turned toward thegate.

'A most unaccounta%le girl#' commented the doctor. '6ut she is right a%out thesestains. A%el#' he called to the man at the gate# '%ring a %o4 or %arrel here and coveru this sot. I don,t want it distur%ed %! tramling "eet.'

A%el started to o%e!# 3ust as the !oung girl laid her hand on the gate to oen it.

'+on,t !ou hel me-' she as$ed. 'The crowd is so great the! won,t let me through.'

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'+on,t the!-' The words came "rom without. '8ust sli out as I sli in# and !ou,ll "inda lace made "or !ou.'

Not recognising the voice# she hesitated "or a moment# %ut seeing the gate swa!ing#she ushed against it 3ust as a !oung man steed through the ga. Necessaril!the! came "ace to "ace.

'Ah# it,s !ou#' he muttered# giving her a shar glance.

'I do not $now !ou#' she haughtil! declared# and slied %! him with such de4terit!she was out o" the gate %e"ore he could resond.

6ut he onl! snaed his "inger and thum% moc$ingl! at her# and smiled $nowingl! atA%el# who had lingered to watch the end o" this encounter.

'*ule as a willow twig# eh-' he laughed. '+ell# I have made whistles out o" willows%e"ore now# and hallo( where did !ou get that-'

He was ointing to a rare "lower that hung lim and "aded "rom A%el,s %uttonhole.

'This- Oh# I "ound it in the house !onder. It was l!ing on the "loor o" the inner room#

almost under 6ats!,s s$irts. Curious sort o" "lower. I wonder where she got it-'The intruder %etra!ed at once an unaccounta%le emotion. There was a strange glitterin his light green e!es that made A%el shi"t rather uneasil! on his "eet. '+as that%e"ore this rett! min4 !ou have 3ust let out came in here with r. *utherland-'

'O !es) %e"ore an!one had started "or the hill at all. +h!# what has this !oung lad!got to do with a "lower droed %! 6ats!-'

'*he- Nothing. Onl!&&and I have never given !ou %ad advice# A%el&& don,t let thatthing hang an! longer "rom !our %uttonhole. 5ut it into an enveloe and $ee it# andi" !ou don,t hear "rom me again in regard to it# write me out a "ool and "orget we wereever chums when little shavers.'

The man called A%el smiled# too$ out the "lower# and went to cover u the grass as/r. Tal%ot had re0uested. The stranger too$ his lace at the gate# toward which thecoroner and r. *utherland were now advancing# with an air that showed his greatan4iet! to sea$ with them. He was the musician whom we saw secretl! entering thelast&mentioned gentleman,s house a"ter the dearture o" the servants.

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As the coroner aused %e"ore him he so$e. '/r. Tal%ot#' said he# droing his e!es#which were at to %etra! his thoughts too lainl!# '!ou have o"ten romised that !ouwould give me a 3o% i" an! matter came u where an! nice detective wor$ waswanted. /on,t !ou thin$ the time has come to remem%er me-'

'You# *weetwater- I,m a"raid the a""air is too dee "or an ine4erienced man,s "irst

e""ort. I shall have to send to 6oston "or an e4ert. Another time# *weetwater# whenthe comlications are less serious.'

The !oung "ellow# with a "ace white as mil$# was turning awa!.

'6ut !ou,ll let me sta! around here-' he leaded# ausing and giving the other animloring loo$.

'O !es#' answered the good&natured coroner. 'Fenton will have wor$ enough "or !ouand hal" a do7en others. 2o and tell him I sent !ou.'

'Than$ !ou#' returned the other# his "ace suddenl! losing its asect o" acutedisaointment. 'Now I shall see where that "lower "ell#' he murmured.

=I. 6REA9FA*T I* *ER=E/# 2ENTLEEN(r. *utherland returned home. As he entered the %road hall he met his son#Frederic$. There was a loo$ on the !oung man,s "ace such as he had not seen therein !ears.

'Father#' "altered the !outh# 'ma! I have a "ew words with !ou-'

The "ather nodded $indl!# though it is li$el! he would have much re"erred his%rea$"ast) and the !oung man led him into a little sitting&room littered with the "adedgarlands and other to$ens o" the receding night,s "estivities.

'I have an aolog! to ma$e#' Frederic$ %egan# 'or rather# I have !our "orgiveness toas$. For !ears' he went on# stum%ling over his words# though he gave no evidenceo" a wish to restrain them&&'"or !ears I have gone contrariwise to !our wishes andcaused m! mother,s heart to ache and !ou to wish I had never %een %orn to %e acurse to !ou and her.'

He had emhasised the word mother# and so$e altogether with "orce and deeintensit!. r. *utherland stood etri"ied) he had long ago given u this lad as lost.

'I&&I wish to change. I wish to %e as great a ride to !ou as I have %een a shame anda dishonour. I ma! not succeed at once) %ut I am in earnest# and i" !ou will give me!our hand&&'

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The old man,s arms were round the !oung man,s shoulders at once.

'Frederic$(' he cried# 'm! Frederic$('

'/o not ma$e me too much ashamed#' murmured the !outh# ver! ale and strangel!discomosed. '+ith no e4cuse "or m! ast# I su""er intolera%le arehension in

regard to m! "uture# lest m! good intentions should "ail or m! sel"&control not holdout. 6ut the $nowledge that !ou are ac0uainted with m! resolve# and regard it withan undeserved s!math!# ma! su""ice to sustain me# and I should certainl! %e a%ase oltroon i" I should disaoint !ou or her twice.'

He aused# drew himsel" "rom his "ather,s arms# and glanced almost solemnl! out o"the window. 'I swear that I will hence"orth act as i" she were still alive and watchingme.'

There was strange intensit! in his manner. r. *utherland regarded him withama7ement. He had seen him in ever! mood natural to a rec$less man# %ut never inso serious a one# never with a loo$ o" awe or urose in his "ace. It gave him 0uite anew idea o" Frederic$.

'Yes#' the !oung man went on# raising his right hand# %ut not removing his e!es "romthe distant rosect on which the! were "i4ed# 'I swear that I will hence"orth donothing to discredit her memor!. Outwardl! and inwardl!# I will act as though her e!ewere still uon me and she could again su""er grie" at m! "ailures or thrill withleasure at m! success.'

A ortrait o" rs. *utherland# ainted when Frederic$ was a lad o" ten# hung within a"ew "eet o" him as he so$e. He did not glance at it# %ut r. *utherland did# and witha loo$ as i" he e4ected to %ehold a resonsive light %eam "rom those athetic"eatures.

'*he loved !ou ver! dearl!#' was his slow and earnest comment. '+e have %othloved !ou much more deel! than !ou have ever seemed to realise# Frederic$.'

'I %elieve it#' resonded the !oung man# turning with an e4ression o" calm resolveto meet his "ather,s e!e. 'As roo" that I am no longer insensi%le to !our a""ection# Ihave made u m! mind to "orego "or !our sa$e one o" the dearest wishes o" m!heart. Father' he hesitated %e"ore he so$e the word# %ut he so$e it "irml! atlast#&&'am I right in thin$ing !ou would not li$e iss 5age "or a daughter-'

'Li$e m! house$eeer,s niece to ta$e the lace in this house once occuied %!arietta *utherland- Frederic$# I have alwa!s thought too well o" !ou to

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%elieve !ou would carr! !our "orget"ulness o" me so "ar as that# even when I saw that!ou were in"luenced %! her attractions.'

'You did not do 3ustice to m! sel"ishness# "ather. I did mean to marr! her# %ut I havegiven u living solel! "or m!sel"# and she could never hel me to live "or others.Father# Ama%el 5age must not remain in this house to cause division %etween !ou

and me.'

'I have alread! intimated to her the desira%ilit! o" her 0uitting a home where she isno longer resected#' the old gentleman declared. '*he leaves on the [email protected] train.Her conduct this morning at the house o" rs. +e%%&&who erhas !ou do not $nowwas most cruell! and "oull! murdered last night&&was such as to cause comment andma$e her an undesira%le ad3unct to an! gentleman,s "amil!.'

Frederic$ aled. *omething in these words had caused him a great shoc$. r.*utherland was "ond enough to %elieve that it was the news o" this e4traordinar!woman,s death. 6ut his son,s words# as soon as lie could "ind an!# showed that hismind was running on Ama%el# whom he erhas had "ound it di""icult to connecteven in the remotest wa! with crime.

'*he at this lace o" death- How could that %e- +ho would ta$e a !oung girl there-'

The "ather# e4eriencing# erhas# more comassion "or this soon& to&%e&disillusioned lover than he thought it incum%ent uon him to show# answered shortl!#%ut without an! comromise o" the unha! truth1

'*he went) she was not ta$en. No one# not even m!sel"# could $ee her %ac$ a"tershe had heard that a murder had %een committed in the town. *he even intrudedinto the house) and when ordered out o" the room o" death too$ u her stand in the!ard in "ront# where she remained until she had the oortunit! o" ointing out to us astain o" %lood on the grass# which might otherwise have escaed our attention.'

'Imossi%le(' Frederic$,s e!e was staring) he loo$ed li$e a man struc$ dum% %!surrise or "ear. 'Ama%el do this- You are moc$ing me# sir# or I ma! %e dreaming#which ma! the good 2od grant.'

His "ather# who had not loo$ed "or so much emotion# e!ed his son in surrise# whichraidl! changed to alarm as the !oung man "altered and "ell %ac$ against the wall.

'You are ill# Frederic$) !ou are reall! ill. Let me call down rs. Harcourt. 6ut no# Icannot summon her. *he is this girl,s aunt.'

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Frederic$ made an e""ort and stood u.

'/o not call an!%od!#' he entreated. 'I e4ect to su""er some in casting this"ascinating girl out o" m! heart. >ltimatel! I will con0uer the wea$ness) indeed I will.

As "or her interest in rs. +e%%,s death'&&how low his voice san$ and how hetrem%led(' she ma! have %een %etter "riends with her than we had an! reason to

suose. I can thin$ o" no other motive "or her conduct. Admiration "or rs. +e%%and horror&&&'

'6rea$"ast is served# gentlemen(' cried a thrilling voice %ehind them. Ama%el 5agestood smiling in the doorwa!.

=II. ARRY E

'+ait a moment# I must sea$ to !ou.' It was Ama%el who was holding Frederic$%ac$. *he had caught him %! the arm as he was a%out leaving the room with his"ather# and he "elt himsel" o%liged to sto and listen.

'I start "or *ring"ield to&da!#' she announced. 'I have another relative there living atthe house. +hen shall I have the leasure o" seeing !ou in m! new home-'

'Never.' It was said regret"ull!# and !et with a certain %rus0ueness# occasionederhas %! over&e4cited "eeling. 'Hard as it is "or me to sa! it# Ama%el# it is %ut 3ust"or me to tell !ou that a"ter our arting here to&da! we will meet onl! as strangers.Friendshi %etween us would %e moc$er!# and an! closer relationshi has %ecomeimossi%le.'

It had cost him an immense e""ort to sa! these words# and he e4ected# "ondl!e4ected# I must admit# to see her colour change and her head droo. 6ut instead o"this she loo$ed at him steadil! "or a moment# then slied her hand down his arm tillshe reached his alm# which she ressed with sudden warmth# drawing him into theroom as she did so# and shutting the door %ehind them. He was seechless# "or shenever had loo$ed so handsome or so glowing. Instead o" showing deression orhumiliation even# she con"ronted him with a smile more dangerous than an! disla!o" grie"# "or it contained what it had hitherto lac$ed# ositive and irresisti%leadmiration. Her words were e0uall! dangerous.

'I $iss !our hand# as the *aniards sa!.' And she almost did so# with a %end o" herhead# which 3ust allowed him to catch a glimse o" two startling dimles.

He was astounded. He thought he $new this woman well# %ut at this moment shewas as incomrehensi%le to him as i" he had never made a stud! o" her carices andsought an e4lanation "or her ever& shi"ting e4ressions.

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'I am sensi%le o" the honour#' said he# '%ut hardl! understand how I have earned it.'

*till that incomrehensi%le loo$ o" admiration continued to illumine her "ace.

'I did not $now I could ever thin$ so well o" !ou#' she declared. 'I" !ou do not ta$ecare# I shall end %! loving !ou some da!.'

'Ah(' he e3aculated# his "ace contracting with sudden ain) '!our love# then# is %ut aotentialit!. =er! well# Ama%el# $ee it so and !ou will %e sared much miser!. As "orme# who have not %een as wise as !ou&&&'

'Frederic$(' *he had come so near he did not have the strength to "inish. Her "ace#with its inde"ina%le charm# was raised to his# as she droed these words one %! one"rom her lis in lingering cadence1 'Frederic$&&do !ou love me# then# so ver! much-'

He was angr!) ossi%l! %ecause he "elt his resolution "ailing him. 'You $now(' hehotl! %egan# steing %ac$. Then with a sudden %urst o" "eeling# that was almost li$era!er# he resumed1 '/o not temt me# Ama%el. I have trou%le enough# withoutlamenting the "ailure o" m! "irst stead"ast urose.'

'Ah(' she said# stoing where she was# %ut drawing him toward her %! ever!witcher! o" which her mo%ile "eatures were caa%le) '!our generous imulse hasstrengthened into a urose# has it- +ell# I,m not worth it# Frederic$.'

ore and more astounded# understanding her less than ever# %ut charmed %! loo$sthat would have moved an anchorite# he turned his head awa! in a vain attemt toescae an in"luence that was so raidl! undermining his determination.

*he saw the movement# recognised the wea$ness it %eso$e# and in the triumh o"her heart allowed a low laugh to escae her.

Her voice# as I have %e"ore said# was unmusical though e""ective) %ut her laugh wasdeliciousl! sweet# eseciall! when it was restrained to a mere rile# as now.

'You will come to *ring"ield soon#' she avowed# sliing "rom %e"ore him so as toleave the wa! to the door oen.

'Ama%el(' His voice was strangel! hus$!# and the involuntar! oening and shuttingo" his hands revealed the emotion under which he was la%ouring. '/o !ou love me-You have ac$nowledged it now and then# %ut alwa!s as i" !ou did not mean it. Now!ou ac$nowledge that !ou ma! some da!# and this time as i" !ou did mean it. +hatis the truth- Tell me# without co0uetr! or

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dissem%ling# "or I am in dead earnest# and&&&' He aused# cho$ed# and turned towardthe window where %ut a "ew minutes %e"ore he had ta$en that solemn oath. Theremem%rance o" it seemed to come %ac$ with the movement. Flushing with a newagitation# he wheeled uon her sharl!. 'No# no#' he ra!ed# 'sa! nothing. I" !ouswore !ou did not love me I should not %elieve it# and i" !ou swore that !ou did I

should onl! "ind it harder to reeat what must again %e said# that a union %etween uscan never ta$e lace. I have given m! solemn romise to&&&'

'+ell# well. +h! do !ou sto- Am I so hard to tal$ to that the words will not leave!our lis-'

'I have romised m! "ather I will never marr! !ou. He "eels that he has grounds o"comlaint against !ou# and as I owe him ever!thing&&&'

He stoed ama7ed. *he was loo$ing at him intentl!# that same low laugh still on herlis.

'Tell the truth#' she whisered. 'I $now to what e4tent !ou consider !our "ather,swishes. You thin$ !ou ought not to marr! me a"ter what too$ lace last night.

Frederic$# I li$e !ou "or this evidence o" consideration on !our art# %ut do notstruggle too relentlessl! with !our conscience. I can "orgive much more in !ou than!ou thin$# and i" !ou reall! love me&&&'

'*to( Let us understand each other.' He had turned mortall! ale# and met her e!eswith something a$in to alarm. '+hat do !ou allude to in sea$ing o" last night- I didnot $now there was an!thing said %! us in our tal$ together&&&'

'I do not allude to our tal$.'

'Or&&or in the one dance we had&&&'

'Frederic$# a dance is innocent.'

The word seemed to stri$e him with the "orce o" a %low.

'Innocent#' he reeated# 'innocent-' %ecoming aler still as the "ull weight o" hermeaning %ro$e graduall! uon him.

'I "ollowed !ou into town#' she whisered# coming closer# and %reathing the wordsinto his ear. '6ut what I saw !ou do there will not revent me "rom o%e!ing !ou i" !ousa!1 ,Follow me wherever I go# Ama%el) hence"orth our lives are one.,'

'! 2od('

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It was all he said# %ut it seemed to create a gul" %etween them. In the silence that"ollowed# the evil sirit latent %eneath her %eaut! %egan to ma$e itsel" evident evenin the smile which no longer called into view the dimles which %elong to guilelessmirth# while uon his "ace# a"ter the "irst aral!sing e""ect o" her words had assed#there aeared an e4ression o" manl! resistance that %etra!ed a virtue which as

!et had never aeared in his sel"ish and altogether rec$less li"e.That this was more than a assing imulse he resentl! made evident %! li"ting hishand and ushing her slowl! %ac$.

'I do not $now what !ou saw me do#' said he) '%ut whatever it was# it can ma$e nodi""erence in our relations.'

Her whiser# which had %een %ut a %reath %e"ore# %ecame scarcel! audi%le.

'I did not ause at the gate !ou entered#' said she. 'I went in a"ter !ou.'

A gas o" irresisti%le "eeling escaed him# %ut he did not ta$e his e!es "rom her "ace.

'It was a long time %e"ore !ou came out#' she went on# '%ut revious to that time the

shade o" a certain window was thrust aside# and&&&''Hush(' he commanded# in uncontrolla%le assion# ressing his hand with imulsiveenerg! against her mouth. 'Not another word o" that# or I shall "orget !ou are awoman or that I have ever loved !ou.'

Her e!es# which were all she had remaining to lead with# too$ on a eculiar loo$ o"0uiet satis"action# and ower. *eeing it# he let his hand "all and "or the "irst time%egan to regard her with an!thing %ut a lover,s e!es.

'I was the onl! erson in sight at that time#' she continued. 'You have nothing to "ear"rom the world at large.'

'Fear-'

The word made its own echo) she had no need to emhasise it even %! a smile. 6utshe watched him as it sun$ into his consciousness with an intentness it too$ all hisstrength to sustain. *uddenl! her %earing and e4ression changed. The "ew remainso" sweetness in her "ace vanished# and even the allurement which o"ten lasts whenthe sweetness is gone# disaeared in the energ! which now too$ ossession o" herwhole threatening and in"le4i%le ersonalit!.

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'arr! me#' she cried# 'or I will roclaim !ou to %e the murderer o" Agatha +e%%.'

*he had seen the death o" love in his e!es.

=III. A /E=IL THAT >N/ER*TAN/* EN

Frederic$ *utherland was a man o" "iner mental %alance than he himsel"# erhas#

had ever realised. A"ter the "irst "ew moments o" stue"action "ollowing theastounding alternative which had %een given him# he %ro$e out with the lastsentence she ro%a%l! e4ected to hear1

'+hat do !ou hoe "rom a marriage with me# that to attain !our wishes !ou thussacri"ice ever! womanl! instinct-'

*he met him on his own ground.

'+hat do I hoe-' *he actuall! glowed with the "orce o" her secret desire. 'Can !ouas$ a oor girl li$e me# %orn in a tenement house# %ut with tastes and am%itions suchas are usuall! onl! given to those who can grati"! them- I want to %e the rich r.*utherland,s daughter) ac$nowledged or unac$nowledged# the wi"e o" one who can

enter an! house in 6oston as an e0ual. +ith a osition li$e that I can rise toan!thing. I "eel that I have the natural ower and atitude. I have "elt it since I was asmall child.'

'And "or that&&&' he %egan.

'And "or that#' she %ro$e in# 'I am 0uite willing to overloo$ a %lot on !our record.Con"ident that !ou will never reeat the ris$ o" last night# I am read! to share the%urden o" !our secret through li"e. I" !ou treat me well# I am sure I can ma$e that%urden light "or !ou.'

+ith a 0uic$ "lush and an increase o" sel"&assertion# ro%a%l! not anticiated %! her#he "aced the daring girl with a deserate resolution that showed how handsome hecould %e i" his soul once got control o" his %od!.

'+oman#' he cried# 'the! were right) !ou are little less than a devil.'

/id she regard it as a comliment- Her smile would seem to sa! so.

'A devil that understands men#' she answered# with that slow di o" her dimles thatmade her smile so dangerous. 'You will not hesitate long over this matter) a wee$#erhas.'

'I shall not hesitate at all. *eeing !ou as !ou are# ma$es m! course eas!. You willnever share an! %urden with me as m! wi"e.'

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*till she was not a%ashed.

'It is a it!#' she whisered) 'it would have saved !ou such unnecessar! struggle.6ut a wee$ is not long to wait. I am certain o" !ou then. This da! wee$ at twelveo,cloc$# Frederic$.'

He sei7ed her %! the arm# and lost to ever!thing %ut his rage# shoo$ her with adeserate hand.

'/o !ou mean it-' he cried# a sudden horror showing itsel" in his "ace#notwithstanding his e""orts to conceal it.

'I mean it so much#' she assured him# 'that %e"ore I came home 3ust now I aid avisit to the cose over the wa!. A certain hollow tree# where !ou and I have heldmore than one tr!st# conceals within its deths a ac$age containing over onethousand dollars. Frederic$# I hold !our li"e in m! hands.'

The gras with which he held her rela4ed) a mortal desair settled uon his "eatures#and recognising the imossi%ilit! o" "urther concealing the e""ect o" her words uonhim# he san$ into a chair and covered his "ace with his hands. *he viewed him with

an air o" triumh# which %rought %ac$ some o" her %eaut!. +hen she so$e it was tosa!1

'I" !ou wish to 3oin me in *ring"ield %e"ore the time I have set# well and good. I amwilling that the time o" our searation should %e shortened# %ut it must not %elengthened %! so much as a da!. Now# i" !ou will e4cuse me# I will go and ac$ m!trun$s.'

He shuddered) her voice enetrated him to the 0uic$.

/rawing hersel" u# she loo$ed down on him with a strange mi4ture o" assion andelation.

'You need "ear no indiscretion on m! art# so long as our armistice lasts#' said she.

'No one can drag the truth "rom me while an! hoe remains o" !our doing !our dut!%! me in the wa! I have suggested.'

And still he did not move.

'Frederic$-'

+as it her voice that was thus murmuring his name- Can the tiger snarl one momentand "awn the ne4t-

'Frederic$# I have a "inal word to sa!&&a last "arewell. > to this hour I have endured!our attentions# or# let us sa!# acceted them# "or I alwa!s "ound !ou

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handsome and agreea%le# i" not the master o" m! heart. 6ut now it is love that I "eel#love) and love with me is no "anc!# %ut a assion&&do !ou hear-&&a assion which willma$e li"e a heaven or hell "or the man who has insired it. You should have thoughto" this when !ou oosed me.'

And with a loo$ in which love and hatred contended "or master!# she %ent and

imrinted a $iss uon his "orehead. Ne4t moment she was gone.

Or so he thought. 6ut when# a"ter an interval o" nameless recoil# he rose andattemted to stagger "rom the lace# he discovered that she had %een detained inthe hall %! two or three men who had 3ust come in %! the "ront door.

'Is this iss 5age-' the! were as$ing.

'Yes# I am iss 5age&&Ama%el 5age' she relied with suave oliteness. 'I" !ou havean! %usiness with me# state it 0uic$l!# "or I am a%out to leave town.'

'That is what we wish to revent#' declared a tall# thin !oung man who seemed tota$e the lead. 'Till the in0uest has %een held over the remains o" rs. +e%%#Coroner Tal%ot wishes !ou to regard !oursel" as a ossi%le witness.'

'e-' she cried# with an admira%le gesture o" surrise and a wide oening o" her%rown e!es that made her loo$ li$e an astonished child. '+hat have I got to do withit-'

'You ointed out a certain sot o" %lood on the grass# and&&well# the coroner,s ordershave to %e o%e!ed# miss. You cannot leave the town without running the ris$ o"arrest'

'Then I will sta! in it#' she smiled. 'I have no li$ing "or arrests#' and the glint o" here!e rested "or a moment on Frederic$. 'r. *utherland#' she continued# as thatgentleman aeared at the dining&room door# 'I shall have to imose uon !ourhositalit! "or a "ew da!s longer. These men here in"orm me that m! innocent

interest in ointing out to !ou that sot o" %lood on rs. +e%%,s lawn has awa$enedsome curiosit!# and that I am wanted as a witness %! the coroner.'

r. *utherland# with a 0uic$ stride# lessened the distance %etween himsel" and theseunwelcome intruders. 'The coroner,s wishes are aramount 3ust now#' said he# %utthe loo$ he gave his son was not soon "orgotten %! the sectators.

I. A 2RAN/ +OAN

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There was %ut one toic discussed in the countr!&side that da!# and that was the li"eand character o" Agatha +e%%.

Her histor! had not %een a ha! one. *he and 5hilemon had come "rom5ortchester some twent! or more !ears %e"ore to escae the sorrows associatedwith their native town. The! had le"t %ehind them si4 small graves in 5ortchester

church!ard) %ut though evidences o" their a""liction were alwa!s to %e seen in thecountenances o" either# the! had entered with so much urose into the li"e o" theiradoted town that the! had %ecome ersons o" note there till 5hilemon,s health%egan to "ail# when Agatha 0uit all outside wor$ and devoted hersel" e4clusivel! tohim. O" her character and winsome ersonalit! we can gather some idea "rom thevarious conversations carried on that da! "rom 5ortchester 2reen to the shi!ards in*utherlandtown.

In /eacon 6rainerd,s cottage# the discussion was concerning Agatha,s lac$ o" vanit!)a virtue not ver! common at that time among the women o" this %us! seaort.

'For a woman so handsome#' the good deacon was sa!ing ':and I thin$ I can sa"el!call her the "inest&"eatured woman who ever trod these streets;# she showed as littleinterest in dress as an!one I ever $new. Calico at home and calico at church# !et sheloo$ed as much o" a lad! in her dar$&srigged gowns as rs. +e%ster in her sil$s orrs. 5arsons in her thousand&dollar seals$in.'

As this was a toic within the scoe o" his eldest daughter,s intelligence she at onceso$e u1 'I never thought she needed to dress so lainl!. I don,t %elieve in such ashow o" overt! m!sel". I" one is too oor to go decent# all right) %ut the! sa! she hadmore mone! than most an!one in town. I wonder who is going to get the %ene"it o"it-'

'+h!# 5hilemon# o" course) that is# as long as he lives. He dou%tless had the ma$ingo" it.'

'Is it true that he,s gone clean out o" his head since her death-' interosed aneigh%our who had haened in.

'*o the! sa!. I %elieve widow 8ones has ta$en him into her house.'

'/o !ou thin$#' as$ed a second daughter with %ecoming hesitation# 'that he hadan!thing to do with her death- *ome o" the neigh%ours sa! he struc$ her while inone o" his cra7! "its# while others declare she was $illed %! some stranger# e0uall!old and almost as in"irm.'

'+e won,t discuss the su%3ect#' o%3ected the deacon. 'Time will show who ro%%ed uso" the greatest&hearted and most caa%le woman in these arts.'

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'And will time show who $illed 6ats!-' It was a morsel o" a girl who so$e) the leastone o" the "amil!# %ut the %rightest. 'I,m sorr! "or 6ats!) she alwa!s gave me coo$ieswhen I went to see rs. +e%%.'

'6ats! was a good girl "or a *wede#' allowed the deacon,s wi"e# who had not so$entill now. '+hen she "irst came into town on the sars o" that wrec$ed shi we all

remem%er# there was some struggle %etween Agatha and me as to which o" usshould have her. 6ut I didn,t li$e the tas$ o" teaching her the name o" ever! ot andan she had to use in the $itchen# so I gave her u to Agatha) and it was "ortunate Idid# "or I,ve never %een a%le to understand her tal$ to this da!.'

'I could tal$ with her right well#' lised the little one. '*he never called things %! their*wedish names unless she was worried) and I never worried her.'

'I wonder i" she would have worshied the ground under !our "eet# as she did thatunder Agatha,s-' as$ed the deacon# e!ing his wi"e with 3ust the susicion o" amalicious twin$le in his e!e.

'I am not the greatest&hearted and most caa%le woman in town#' retorted his wi"e#

clic$ing her needles as she went on $nitting.In r. *rague,s house on the oosite side o" the road# *0uire Fisher was relatingsome old tales o" %!gone 5ortchester da!s. 'I $new Agatha when she was a girl#' heavowed. '*he had the grandest manners and the most enchanting smile o" an! richor oor man,s daughter %etween the coast and *ring"ield. *he did not dress incalico then. *he wore the ga!est clothes her "ather could %u!. her# and old 8aco%was not without means to ma$e his daughter the leading "igure in town. How we!oung "ellows did adore her# and what lengths we went to win one o" her glorioussmiles( Two o" us# 8ohn and 8ames


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"ailing wits. 6ut no one# to m! $nowledge# has ever heard a comlaint "rom her lis)and the dignit! o" her a""licted wi"e&hood has "ar transcended the haughtiness o"those da!s when she had %ut to smile to have all the !outh o" 5ortchester at her"eet.'

'I suose it was the loss o" so man! children that reconciled her to a 0uiet li"e. A

woman cannot close the e!es o" si4 children# one a"ter the other# without somemodi"ication ta$ing lace in her character.'

'Yes# she and 5hilemon have %een un"ortunate) %ut she was a slendid loo$ing girl#%o!s. I never see such grand&loo$ing women now.'

In a little one&storied cottage on the hillside a woman was nursing a %a%! and tal$ingat the same time o" Agatha +e%%.

'I shall never "orget the night m! "irst %a%! "ell sic$#' she "altered) 'I was 3ust out o"%ed m!sel"# and having no nearer neigh%ours then than now# I was all alone on thehillside# Alec %eing awa! at sea. I was too !oung to $now much a%out sic$ness# %utsomething told me that I must have hel %e"ore morning or m! %a%! would die.

Though I could 3ust wal$ across the "loor# I threw a shawl around me# too$ m! %a%!in m! arms# and oened the door. A %linding gust o" rain %lew in. A terri%le stormwas raging and I had not noticed it# I was so ta$en u with the child.

'I could not "ace that gale. Indeed# I was so wea$ I "ell on m! $nees as it struc$ meand %ecame driing wet %e"ore I could drag m!sel" inside. The %a%! %egan to moanand ever!thing was turning dar$ %e"ore me# when I heard a strong# sweet voice cr!out in the roadwa!1

',Is there room in this house "or me till the storm has %lown %!- I cannot see m! wa!down the hillside.,

'+ith a %ursting heart I loo$ed u. A woman was standing in the doorwa!# with theloo$ o" an angel in her e!es. I did not $now her# %ut her "ace was one to %ringcom"ort to the saddest heart. Holding u m! %a%!# I cried1

',! %a%! is d!ing) I tried to go "or the doctor# %ut m! $nees %ent under me. Hel me#as !ou are a mother&&I&&&,

'I must have "allen again# "or the ne4t thing I remem%er I was l!ing %! the hearth#loo$ing u into her "ace# which was %ending over me. *he was white as the rag I hadtied a%out m! %a%!,s throat# and %! the wa! her %reast heaved she was either ver!much "rightened or ver! sorr!.

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',I wish !ou had the hel o" an!one else#, said she. ,6a%ies erish in m! arms andwither at m! %reast. I cannot touch it# much as I !earn to. 6ut let me see its "ace)erhas I can tell !ou what is the matter with it.,

'I showed her the %a%!,s "ace# and she %ent over it# trem%ling ver! much# almost asmuch indeed as m!sel".

',It is ver! sic$#, she said# ,%ut i" !ou will use the remedies I advise# I thin$ !ou cansave it., And she told me what to do# and heled me all she could) %ut she did not la!a "inger on the little darling# though "rom the wa! she watched it I saw that her heartwas set on his getting %etter. And he did) in an hour he was sleeing eace"ull!# andthe terri%le weight was gone "rom m! heart and "rom hers. +hen the storm stoed#and she could leave the house# she gave me a $iss) %ut the loo$ she gave himmeant more than $isses. 2od must have "orgotten her goodness to me that nightwhen He let her die so itia%le a death.'

At the minister,s house the! were commenting uon the loo$ o" serenit! o%serva%lein her dead "ace.

'I have $nown her "or thirt! !ears#' her astor declared# 'and never %e"ore have Iseen her wear a loo$ o" real eace. It is wonder"ul# considering the circumstances./o !ou thin$ she was so wear! o" her li"e,s long struggle that she hailed an! release"rom it# even that o" violence-'

A !oung man# a law!er# visiting them "rom New Yor$# was the onl! one to answer.

'I never saw the woman !ou are tal$ing a%out#' said he# 'and $now nothing o" thecircumstances o" her death %e!ond what !ou have told me. 6ut "rom the ver!incongruit! %etween her e4ression and the violent nature o" her death# I argue thatthere are deths to this crime which have not !et %een sounded.'

'+hat deths- It is a simle case o" murder "ollowed %! the"t. To %e sure we do not!et $now the criminal# %ut mone! was his motive) that is clear enough.'

'Are !ou read! to wager that that is all there is to it-'

This was a startling roosition to the minister.

'You "orget m! cloth#' said he.

The !oung man smiled. 'That is true. 5ardon me. I was onl! an4ious to show howstrong m! conviction was against an! such eas! e4lanation o" a crime mar$ed %!such contradictor! "eatures.'

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Two children on the 5ortchester road were e4changing %o!ish con"idences.

'/o !ou $now what I thin$ a%out it-' as$ed one.

'Naw( How should I-'

'+all# I thin$ old rs. +e%% got the li$es o" what she sent. /on,t !ou $now she had

si4 children once# and that she $illed ever! one o" them-''9illed,em&&she-'

'Yes# I heard her tell grann! once all a%out it. *he said there was a %light on herhouse&&I don,t $now what that is) %ut I guess it,s something %ig and heav!&&and that it"ell on ever! one o" her children# as "ast as the! came# and $illed ,em.'

'Then I,m glad I %en,t her child.'

=er! di""erent were the recollections interchanged %etween two middle&aged5ortchester women.

'*he was drin$ing tea at m! house when her sister *aire! came running in with thenews that the %a%! she had le"t at home wasn,t 0uite right. That was her "irst child#

!ou $now.'

'Yes# !es# "or I was with her when that %a%! came#' %ro$e in the other# 'and such 3o!as she showed when the! told her it was alive and well I never saw. I do not $nowwh! she didn,t e4ect it to %e alive# %ut she didn,t# and her hainess was 3ustwonder"ul to see.'

'+ell# she didn,t en3o! it long. The oor little "ellow died !oung. 6ut I was telling !ouo" the night when she "irst heard he was ailing. 5hilemon had %een telling a goodstor!# and we were all laughing# when *aire! came in. I can see Agatha now. *healwa!s had the most %rilliant e!es in the count!# %ut that da! the! were suer%l!da77ling. The! changed# though# at the sight o" *aire!,s "ace# and she 3umed tomeet her 3ust as i" she $new what *aire! was going to sa! %e"ore ever a word le"t herlis. ,! %a%!(, :I can hear her !et.; ,*omething is the matter with the %a%!(, Andthough *aire! made haste to tell her that he was onl! ailing and not at all ill# sheturned uon 5hilemon with a loo$ none o" us ever 0uite understood) he changed socomletel! under it# 3ust as she had under *aire!,s) and to neither did the oldhainess ever return# "or the child died within a wee$# and when the ne4t came itdied also# and the ne4t# till si4 small innocents la! %uried in !onder old grave!ard.'

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'I $now) and sad enough it was too# eseciall! as she and 5hilemon were %oth "ondo" children. +ell# well# the wa!s o" 5rovidence are ast rinding out( And now she isgone and 5hilemon&&&'

'Ah# he,ll "ollow her soon) he can,t live without Agatha.'

Nearer home# the old se4ton was chattering a%out the si4 gravestones raised in5ortchester church!ard to these si4 dead in"ants. He had %een sent there to choosea sot in which to la! the mother# and was "ull o" the shoc$ it gave him to see thatline o" little stones# telling o" a ast with which the good eole o" *utherlandtown"ound it hard to associate 5hilemon and Agatha +e%%.

'I,m a digger o" graves#' he mused# hal" to himsel" and hal" to his old wi"e watchinghim "rom the other side o" the hearthstone. 'I send a good 0uarter o" m! time in thechurch!ard) %ut when I saw those si4 little mounds# and read the inscritions overthem# I couldn,t hel "eeling 0ueer. Thin$ o" this( On the "irst tin! headstone I readthese words1'

*TE5HEN#

*on o" 5hilemon and Agatha +e%%#

/ied# Aged *i4 +ee$s.

2od %e merci"ul to me a sinner(

'Now what does that mean- /id !ou ever hear an!one sa!-'

'No#' was his old wi"e,s answer. '5erhas she was one o" those Calvinist "ol$s who%elieve %a%ies go to hell i" the! are not %atised.'

'6ut her children were all %atised. I,ve %een told so) some o" them %e"ore she waswell out o" her %ed. ,2od %e merci"ul to me a sinner(, And the chic$ not si4 wee$s old(*omething 0ueer a%out that# dame# i" it did haen more than thirt! !ears ago.'

'+hat did !ou see over the grave o" the child who was $illed in her arms %!lightning-'

'This1

',And he was not# "or 2od too$ him.,'

Farmer +aite had %ut one word to sa!1

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'*he came to me when m! *iss! had the smallo4) the onl! erson in town whowould enter m! doors. ore than that) when *iss! was u and I went to a! thedoctor,s %ill I "ound it had %een settled. I did not $now then who had enough mone!and comassion to do this "or me) now I do.'

an! an act o" $indness which had %een secretl! er"ormed in that town during the

last twent! !ears came to light on that da!# the most nota%le o" which was thesending o" a certain !oung lad to school and his su%se0uent education as a minister.

6ut other memories o" a sweeter and more secret nature still came u li$ewise#among them the "ollowing1

A !oung girl# who was o" a ver! timid %ut deel! sensitive nature# had %een urgedinto an engagement with a man she did not li$e. Though the con"lict this occasionedher and the miser! which accomanied it were aarent to ever!%od!# no%od!stirred in her %ehal" %ut Agatha. *he went to see her# and# though it was within a"ortnight o" the wedding# she did not hesitate to advise the girl to give him u# andwhen the oor child said she lac$ed the courage# Agatha hersel" went to the manand urged him into a disla! o" generosit! which saved the oor# timid thing "rom ali"e o" miser!. The! sa! this was no eas! tas$ "or Agatha# and that the man wassullen "or a !ear. 6ut the girl,s gratitude was %oundless.

O" her daring# which was alwa!s on the side o" right and 3ustice# the stories werenumerous) so were the accounts# mostl! among the women# o" her rare tendernessand s!math! "or the wea$ and the erring. Never was a man tal$ed to as she tal$edto 8a$e Co%leigh the evening a"ter he struc$ his mother# and i" she had %een in townon the da! when Clarissa a!hew ran awa! with that 5hiladelhia adventurer man!said it would never have haened# "or no girl could stand the admonition# or resistthe leading# o" this childless mother.

It was reserved "or r. Hallida! and r. *utherland to tal$ o" her mental 0ualities.

Her character was so mar$ed and her manner so simle that "ew gave attention tothe intellect that was the real %asis o" her ower. The two mentioned gentlemen#however# areciated her to the "ull# and it was while listening to their remar$s thatFrederic$ was suddenl! startled %! some one sa!ing to him1

'You are the onl! erson in town who have nothing to sa! a%out Agatha +e%%./idn,t !ou ever e4change an! words with her-&&"or I can hardl! %elieve !ou couldhave met her e!e to e!e without having some remar$ to ma$e a%out her %eaut! orher in"luence.'

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The sea$er was Agnes Hallida!# who had come in with her "ather "or a social chat.*he was one o" Frederic$,s earliest la!mates# %ut one with whom he had neverassimilated and who did not li$e him. He $new this# as did ever!one else in town#and it was with some hesitation he turned to answer her.

'I have %ut one recollection#' he %egan# and "or the moment got no "arther# "or in

turning his head to address his !oung guest he had allowed his ga7e to wanderthrough the oen window %! which she sat# into the garden %e!ond# where Ama%elcould %e seen ic$ing "lowers. As he so$e# Ama%el li"ted her "ace with one o" hersuggestive loo$s. *he had dou%tless heard iss Hallida!,s remar$.

Recovering himsel" with an e""ort# he reeated his words1 'I have %ut one recollectiono" rs. +e%% that I can give !ou. Years ago when I was a lad I was la!ing on thegreen with several other %o!s. +e had had some disute a%out a lost %all# and I wasswearing angril! and loud when I suddenl! erceived %e"ore me the tall "orm andcomassionate "ace o" rs. +e%%. *he was dressed in her usual simle wa!# andhad a %as$et on her arm# %ut she loo$ed so suerior to an! other woman I had evermet that I did not $now whether to hide m! "ace in her s$irts or to "ollow m! "irst

imulse and run awa!. *he saw the emotion she had aroused# and li"ting u m! "ace%! the chin# she said1 ,Little %o!# I have %uried si4 children# all o" them !ounger than!ou# and now m! hus%and and m!sel" live alone. O"ten and o"ten have I wished thatone at least o" these darling in"ants might have %een sared us. 6ut had 2od givenme the choice o" having them die !oung and innocent# or o" growing u to swear as Ihave heard !ou to&da!# I should have ra!ed 2od to ta$e them# as He did. You havea mother. /o not %rea$ her heart %! ta$ing in vain the name o" the 2od she reveres.,

And with that she $issed me# and# strange as it ma! seem to !ou# in whatever "oll! orwic$edness I have indulged# I have never made use o" an oath "rom that da! to this&&and I than$ 2od "or it.'

There was such unusual "eeling in his voice# a "eeling that none had ever susected

him caa%le o" %e"ore# that iss Hallida! regarded him with astonishment and 0uite"orgot to indulge in her usual %anter. Even the gentlemen sat still# and there was amomentar! silence# through which there resentl! %ro$e the incongruous sound o" ashrill and moc$ing laugh.

It came "rom Ama%el# who had 3ust "inished gathering her %ou0uet in the gardenoutside.

. /ETECTI=E 9NA55 ARRI=E*

eanwhile# in a small room at the court&house# a still more serious conversation wasin rogress. /r. Tal%ot# r. Fenton# and a certain a%le

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law!er in town %! the name o" Harve!# were in close discussion. The last had %ro$enthe silence o" !ears# and was telling what he $new o" rs. +e%%,s a""airs.

He was a shrewd man# o" un%lemished reutation. +hen called uon to tal$# hetal$ed well# %ut he much re"erred listening# and was# as now aeared# the sa"estreositor! o" secrets to %e "ound in all that region. He had %een married three times#

and could still count thirteen children around his %oard# one reason# erhas# wh! hehad learned to cultivate silence to such a degree. Hail!# the time had come "or himto tal$# and he tal$ed. This is what he said1

'*ome "i"teen !ears ago 5hilemon +e%% came to me with a small sum o" mone!#which he said he wished to have me invest "or his wi"e. It was the "ruit o" a smallseculation o" his and he wanted it given unconditionall! to her without her$nowledge or that o" the neigh%ours. I accordingl! made out a deed o" gi"t# which hesigned with 3o!"ul alacrit!# and then a"ter due thought and care"ul investigation# I utthe mone! into a new enterrise then %eing started in 6oston. It was the %est stro$eo" %usiness I ever did in m! li"e. At the end o" a !ear it aid dou%le# and a"ter "ive hadrolled awa! the accumulated interest had reached such a sum that %oth 5hilemon

and m!sel" thought it wisest to let her $now what she was worth and what was %eingdone with the mone!. I was in hoes it would lead her to ma$e some change in hermode o" living# which seemed to me out o" $eeing with her aearance and mental0uali"ications) while he# I imagine# loo$ed "or something more imortant still&&a smileon the "ace which had somehow lost the tric$ o" merriment# though it had neverac0uired that o" ill nature. 6ut we did not $now Agatha) at least I did not. +hen shelearned that she was rich# she loo$ed at "irst awestruc$ and then heart&ierced.Forgetting me# or ignoring me# it ma$es no matter which# she threw hersel" into5hilemon,s arms and wet# while he# oor "aith"ul "ellow# loo$ed as distressed as i"he had %rought news o" "ailure instead o" triumhant success. I suose she thoughto" her %uried children# and what the mone! would have %een to her i" the! had lived)%ut she did not sea$ o" them# nor am I 0uite sure the! were in her thoughts when#a"ter the "irst e4citement was over# she drew %ac$ and said 0uietl!# %ut in a tone o"strong "eeling# to 5hilemon1 ,You meant me a ha! surrise# and !ou must not %edisaointed. This is heart mone!) we will use it to ma$e our towns"ol$ ha!., I sawhim glance at her dress# which was a urle calico. I remem%er it %ecause o" thatloo$ and %ecause o" the sad smile with which she "ollowed his glance. ,Can we nota""ord now#, he ventured# ,a little show o" lu4ur!# or at least a ri%%on or so "or this%eauti"ul throat o" !ours-, *he did not answer him) %ut her loo$ had a rarecomassion in it# a comassion# strange to sa!# that seemed to %e e4ended uonhim rather than uon hersel". 5hilemon swallowed his disaointment. ,Agatha isright#, he said to me. ,+e do not need lu4ur!. I do not $now how I so "ar "orgot m!sel"as to mention it., That was ten !ears ago# and ever! da! since then her

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roert! has increased. I did not $now then# and I do not $now now# wh! the! were%oth so an4ious that all $nowledge o" their good "ortune should %e $et "rom thosea%out them) %ut that it was to %e Do $et was made ver! evident to me) and#notwithstanding all temtations to the contrar!# I have re"rained "rom uttering a wordli$el! to give awa! their secret. The mone!# which to all aearance was the cause

o" her tragic and untimel! death# was interest mone! which I was delegated todeliver her. I too$ it to her da! %e"ore !esterda!# and it was all in cris new notes#some o" them twenties# %ut most o" them tens and "ives. I am "ree to sa! there wasnot such another roll o" "resh mone! in town.'

'+arn all sho$eeers to $ee a shar loo$out "or new %ills in the mone! the!receive#' was /r. Tal%ot,s comment to the consta%le. 'Fresh ten&and twent!&dollar%ills are none too common in this town. And now a%out her will. /id !ou draw thatu# Harve!-'

'No. I did not $now she had made one. I o"ten so$e to her a%out the advisa%ilit! o"her doing so# %ut she alwa!s ut me o"". And now it seems that she had it drawn uin 6oston. Could not trust her old "riend with too man! secrets# I suose.'

'*o !ou don,t $now how her mone! has %een le"t-'

'No more than !ou do.'

Here an interrution occurred. The door oened and a slim !oung man# wearingsectacles# came in. At sight o" him the! all rose.

'+ell-' eagerl! in0uired /r. Tal%ot.

'Nothing new#' answered the !oung man# with a conse0uential air. 'The elderwoman died "rom loss o" %lood conse0uent uon a %low given %! a small# three&sided# slender %lade) the !ounger "rom a stro$e o" aole4!# induced %! "right.'

'2ood( I am glad to hear m! instincts were not at "ault. Loss o" %lood# eh- /eath#

then# was not instantaneous-''No.'

'*trange(' "ell "rom the lis o" his two listeners. '*he lived# !et gave no alarm.'

'None that was heard#' suggested the !oung doctor# who was "rom another town.

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'Or# i" heard# reached no ears %ut 5hilemon,s#' o%served the consta%le. '*omethingmust have ta$en him ustairs.'

'I am not so sure#' said the coroner# 'that 5hilemon is not answera%le "or the wholecrime# notwithstanding our "ailure to "ind the missing mone! an!where in the house.How else account "or the resignation with which she evidentl! met her death- Had a

stranger struc$ her# Agatha +e%% would have struggled. There is no sign o" strugglein the room.'

'*he would have struggled against 5hilemon had she had strength to struggle. Ithin$ she was aslee when she was struc$.'

'Ah( And was not standing %! the ta%le- How a%out the %lood there# then-'

'*ha$en "rom the murderer,s "ingers in "right or disgust.'

'There was no %lood on 5hilemon,s "ingers.'

'No) he wied them on his sleeve.'

'I" he was the one to use the dagger against her# where is the dagger- *hould we

not %e a%le to "ind it somewhere a%out the remises-''He ma! have %uried it outside. Cra7! men are suer naturall! cunning.'

'+hen !ou can roduce it "rom an! lace inside that %oard "ence# I will consider !ourtheor!. At resent I limit m! susicions o" 5hilemon to the hal"&unconsciousattentions which a man o" disordered intellect might give a wi"e %leeding and d!ingunder his e!es. ! idea on the su%3ect is&&&'

'+ould !ou %e so $ind as not to give utterance to !our ideas until I have %een a%le to"orm some "or m!sel"-' interruted a voice "rom the doorwa!.

As this voice was une4ected# the! all turned. A small man with slee$ dar$ hair ande4ressionless "eatures stood %e"ore them. 6ehind him was A%el# carr!ing a hand&

%ag and um%rella.'The detective "rom 6oston#' announced the latter. Coroner Tal%ot rose.

'You are in good time#' he remar$ed. '+e have wor$ o" no ordinar! nature "or !ou.'

The man "ailed to loo$ interested. 6ut then his countenance was not one to showemotion.

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'! name is 9na#' said he. 'I have had m! suer# and am read! to go to wor$. Ihave read the newsaers) all I want now is an! additional "acts that have come tolight since the telegrahic disatches were sent to 6oston. Facts# mind !ou) nottheories. I never allow m!sel" to %e hamered %! other ersons, theories.'

Not li$ing his manner# which was %rus0ue and too sel"&imortant "or a man o" such

insigni"icant aearance# Coroner Tal%ot re"erred him to r. Fenton# whoimmediatel! roceeded to give him the result o" such investigations as he and hismen had %een a%le to ma$e) which done# r. 9na ut on his hat and turnedtoward the door.

'I will

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Agatha Webb